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French Left-Wing MPs Introduce Amendment To “Reduce” Coverage Of Migrant Crime Stories

French Left-Wing MPs Introduce Amendment To “Reduce” Coverage Of Migrant Crime Stories

Via Remix news,

When reality does not mesh with the “narrative,” the left’s standard tactic is to turn to censorship, and the French left is no different. The French Greens and other left-wing parties now want to make sure that news stories are not used for ideological purposes by the “far right,” claiming that certain media outlets are causing a “moral panic” around immigration due to migrant murders.

According to a parliamentary amendment tabled on June 25, 2025, by a group of Green and left-wing MPs in the National Assembly, news stories of actual events that have happened, and actual lives lost, are being improperly used by the right.

Another post from the French Observatory for Journalism ,wrote: “BREAKING NEWS | Green and left-wing deputies submit an amendment to REDUCE the coverage of crime stories in PUBLIC media. The authors believe these stories are used for ‘political exploitation;’ the text cites the murders of Lola and Thomas.”

The amendment calls for public media outlets to “conduct an editorial review of the role of news stories in news coverage.”

French National Rally parliamentary leader, Marine Le Pen, wrote in response to the new amendment.

“Political control and the concealment of information are hallmarks of totalitarian ideologies. The Greens, who have been drifting toward the far left for years, are taking a new and alarming step in this tendency to curb freedom of expression, a cornerstone of democratic societies. The French must be aware that their right to know is now clearly threatened by these fundamentally anti-liberty measures,’ she wrote on X.

The text put forward by the left cites the case of 13-year-old Lola, who was raped and murdered in Paris by an Algerian female migrant with a deportation order in 2022, as well as Thomas, who was murdered by a gang of migrants in Crépol in 2023.

The authors of the amendment claim that these news stories were then rehashed with “racialist semantics” by politician and leader of the Reconquête party in France, Éric Zemmour, and other allegedly radical right-wing figures.

The amendment denounces the creation of concepts such as “Francocide” and “savagery” in relation to these crimes. It also specifically cites the influence of French news outlets like CNews, Valeurs actuelles, and what it claims is the “fascism sphere” of news reporting.

The politicians who launched the amendment denounce that these factual news stories were used for “political gain,” to the detriment of neutral reporting.

They denounce the structuring of a media space close to the far right, accused of exploiting news stories to advance a vision of security and identity.

A number of social media users reacted negatively to the tabled amendment.

“Move along, there’s nothing to see. They don’t want the French to know what’s happening all over the country, that’s for sure counterproductive for them. Promoting diversity and ethno-cultural replacement when we know the consequences,” wrote one user.

Citing the image of drowned Syrian boy Alan Kurdi, which many credit with sparking the 2016 migrant wave after it was editorially weaponized to justify open borders, one user wrote:

Notably, the cases of Lola and Thomas are just two of thousands of such cases involving crime and immigration in France in recent years. In France, 69 percent of all cases involving violence and sexual crimes on public transport involve foreigners. French President Emmanuel Macron is on record himself saying that half of all crimes in Paris are committed by foreigners. In other cities, such as Marseille, 55 percent of all crimes are committed by foreigners, a rate even higher than Paris, illustrating that it is a countrywide issue. In Paris, foreigners committed 70 percent of all violent robberies, according to official data.

In France, the statistics are greatly misleading, as many of the French citizens committing violent and serious crimes are the children of immigrants or the grandchildren of immigrants.

Zemmour has faced prosecutions for alluding to this fact, saying that many of the suspects are French citizens with a migration background.

“The entire French society doesn’t resort to savagery. Then, what is it? We know who the savagery comes from,” he said. “We all know who commits these assaults. We all know who ran over the police officer Melanie. We all know who killed the bus driver in Bayonne. We know who breaks everything at amusement parks. We know who spoils the beaches of Marseille. We know who is forbidden in a swimming pool in Switzerland. We know all that. We know who it is: 99.9 percent are the children of North African and African immigrants,” said Zemmour, according to the RAIR Foundation, which translated his remarks on the Face à l’Info program.

Zemmour, an Algerian-born French Jew who previously worked for Le Figaro, was referencing crimes against French people by migrants or citizens of migrant descent, including Philippe Monguillot, a bus driver who was beaten to death by a group of young migrants after he asked them to wear their masks when they got on his bus without tickets.

In addition, he mentioned the case of officer Mélanie Lemée, who was deliberately hit and killed by an African male on a motorbike who was trying to escape a police checkpoint. In perhaps one of the most high-profile murders this summer, 23-year-old Axelle Dorier was killed in a brutal hit-and-run by Youcef T., who dragged her with his vehicle for nearly a kilometer and then left her to die.

In other words, the cases of Thomas and Lola are just two cases in a sea of such cases. They only became symbols of a wider societal problem that is rocking France to its core.

France’s issues with insecurity, including a 91 percent increase in murders since 2000, highlight the fact that it is not “right-wing propaganda” driving the public to the right, but instead a serious and statistical reality that the French face on a daily basis.

The war against news outlets like CNews is far from simply an effort from the left, with ongoing efforts from the Macron government to remove the news station’s broadcast license, as Remix News has reported in the past.

Read more here…

Tyler Durden
Sat, 07/05/2025 – 07:00

The Spiderweb & The Lion: Subversive Infiltration And US National Security

The Spiderweb & The Lion: Subversive Infiltration And US National Security

Authored by Andy Thaxton via RealClearWire,

Over a decade ago, when I was working on force protection issues for Navy air logistics missions, the threat of drone attacks was just beginning to be seriously discussed. We kicked around contingencies and “what ifs,” but those discussions were largely in the background of mission planning. Over the course of the past ten years however, that threat has exploded to the forefront of the military operational planning world and has presented something altogether new in modern warfare.

In the early hours of June 1, 2025, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) executed Operation Spiderweb, an audacious drone assault on Russian airfields that destroyed or damaged a number of Russia’s most prized aircraft, including possibly two A-50 early-warning planes and as many as a dozen strategic bombers. Drones, smuggled into Russia over 18 months and concealed in remote-controlled containers, were launched from within Russian territory, catching Moscow’s defenses off guard.

Just days later, on June 13, 2025, Israel’s Mossad orchestrated a similarly bold strike, dubbed Rising Lion, targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Mossad agents, operating covertly within Iran, established drone bases near Tehran and smuggled precision weapons to dismantle air defenses and eliminate key figures, including Revolutionary Guards commanders and at least one senior nuclear scientist. Allow me to emphasize, the drone attacks came from within Russia and from within Iran.

These operations quite possibly signal a new era of warfare: patient, subversive infiltration by committed adversaries willing to play the long game.

The United States—due to years of lax borders and insufficient oversight of foreign land purchases—is alarmingly vulnerable to such tactics, especially from a strategic rival like China, whose land acquisitions near U.S. military bases pose a clear risk.

Asymmetric Warfare Redefined?

Even for those who pay little attention to such things, it is hard to miss that Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb and Israel’s Rising Lion represent a paradigm shift in modern conflict. Rather than relying on conventional military power, both operations leveraged covert infiltration, advanced—though not restricted—technology, and strategic patience to strike deep within enemy territory. Ukraine’s drones, assembled and concealed over months, targeted a multi-billion-dollar air fleet with low-cost, commercially adapted unmanned systems. The SBU’s operation—smuggling drones across borders and hiding them in plain sight—demonstrated how irregular tactics can cripple a nation’s strategic power.

Similarly, Mossad spent (likely) years infiltrating Iran to set up drone bases and move munitions into position, striking at the heart of Tehran’s nuclear program and eliminating critical personnel. These operations reveal the growing effectiveness of a new asymmetric warfare, where smaller actors, with a little creativity, can exploit the vulnerabilities of larger adversaries, potentially for dimes on the dollar. Drones costing mere thousands, or even less, can now challenge systems worth billions. To complicate things further, drones can be deployed en masse. Online videos of Chinese drone light shows are something to see—single controllers managing 10,000 or more small drones in remarkable displays of precision and agility. It’s not hard to imagine what creative military planners could come up with using such systems.

Besides drones being employed in the two operations, there was a common thread of time. Both Ukraine and Israel invested significant time in planning, exploiting weak internal security, and insider access. Ukraine’s drones were smuggled incrementally and hidden in trucks and shipping crates. Mossad’s operatives reportedly worked under the nose of Iranian intelligence, using civilian vehicles to transport weapons and establish covert launch sites. These examples reveal a chilling truth: a patient adversary embedded on a target’s soil can strike with devastating precision.

Is the US Vulnerable?

The United States, with its liberal immigration policies of recent years, and permissive foreign investment rules is ripe for similar subversion. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) oversees foreign land purchases, but its mandate is limited and often fails to detect national security risks posed by strategic acquisitions.

A 2021 case involving the Chinese Fufeng Group’s purchase of 300 acres near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota sparked congressional concern. The base plays a key role in U.S. drone operations and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions—making it an ideal target for espionage or sabotage. Chinese firms have also purchased or attempted to purchase land near other sensitive sites, including Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Only within the past few years has this activity started to gain the attention of lawmakers.

Separate from land purchases, as early as 2019, public warnings of Chinese container ships potentially docking in U.S. ports with concealed drone launchers onboard have been raised. Such covert systems could be used to target military installations and sensitive infrastructure. Tom Shugart, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), emphasized this risk recently stating, “We routinely allow ships owned and operated by DoD-designated Chinese military companies to sit in our ports with thousands of containers onboard and under their control.”

China Is a Patient Adversary

China’s strategy mirrors the patience and subversion seen in Ukraine and Israel’s operations. Through the Belt and Road Initiative and a sweeping global investment program, Beijing demonstrates a long-term approach to gaining strategic leverage. The FBI has highlighted the use of shell companies to obscure Chinese ownership behind purchases, which could complicate oversight by CFIUS and state governments. These acquisitions, if unchecked, could provide ground for passive intelligence gathering and even launching attacks.

The threat is not merely theoretical. Security analysts are increasingly concerned about the possibility of PLA-aligned actors using assets on U.S. soil to disrupt logistics during a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Drones launched from rural properties could target airfields, fuel depots, or command centers—just as Ukraine’s SBU did to Russia.

Closing the Gap

The United States must act decisively to counter this emerging threat. First, Congress should expand CFIUS authority to review all foreign land purchases in proximity to U.S. military bases. Second, the Department of Homeland Security must enhance port security and increase inspections of Chinese-flagged vessels for hidden weapons systems, as urged by CNAS. Third, the U.S. must elevate counterintelligence operations focused on subversive foreign networks—taking cues from Israel’s proven intelligence tradecraft. Finally, individual states must continue to pass legislation restricting foreign ownership of sensitive land.

Ukraine and Israel have demonstrated that patient, subversive infiltration can paralyze powerful militaries. China, through strategic land acquisitions and global ambitions, is already positioned to exploit America’s vulnerabilities. The question is no longer what if—but when.

Tyler Durden
Fri, 07/04/2025 – 22:45

These Are The Most Stolen Cars In Every US State

These Are The Most Stolen Cars In Every US State

Car theft is a widespread issue, driven by factors like demand for parts and organized criminal activity.

In 2024, over 850,000 vehicles were stolen across the U.S., averaging one every 37 seconds.

To see which cars are being targeted the most, Visual Capitalist’s Marcus Lu visualized the most stolen car model in every state.

Data & Discussion

The data for this visualization comes from FinanceBuzz, which reviewed 2024 auto-theft insurance claims filed with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

State Make and Model Vehicles Stolen
Alabama Toyota Camry 219
Alaska Chevrolet Silverado 1500 61
Arizona Hyundai Elantra 649
Arkansas Chevrolet Silverado 1500 178
California Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6248
Colorado Hyundai Elantra 998
Connecticut Hyundai Elantra 617
Delaware Hyundai Elantra 73
Florida Hyundai Elantra 1074
Georgia Hyundai Elantra 750
Hawaii Kia Soul 75
Idaho Ford F150 Series 37
Illinois Jeep Grand Cherokee 1615
Indiana Hyundai Elantra 475
Iowa Chevrolet Silverado 1500 93
Kansas Hyundai Elantra 253
Kentucky Hyundai Sonata 419
Louisiana Hyundai Elantra 360
Maine Chevrolet Silverado 1500 42
Maryland Hyundai Elantra 1966
Massachusetts Honda Accord/Hyundai Elantra (tie) 241
Michigan Jeep Grand Cherokee 1507
Minnesota Hyundai Elantra 652
Mississippi Ford F150 Series 172
Missouri Hyundai Elantra 1074
Montana Ford F150 Series 60
Nebraska Hyundai Elantra 245
Nevada Hyundai Elantra 832
New Hampshire GMC Savana 19
New Jersey Honda Accord 755
New Mexico Chevrolet Silverado 1500 335
New York Honda CR-V 1776
North Carolina Hyundai Elantra 1094
North Dakota Chevrolet Silverado 1500 46
Ohio Hyundai Elantra 1351
Oklahoma Chevrolet Silverado 1500 293
Oregon Honda Civic 435
Pennsylvania Hyundai Elantra 1081
Rhode Island Honda Accord 60
South Carolina Honda Accord 331
South Dakota Ford F150 Series 76
Tennessee Nissan Maxima 1501
Texas Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6453
Utah Honda Civic 120
Vermont Subaru Forester 25
Virginia Hyundai Elantra 550
Washington Hyundai Elantra 1379
West Virginia Ford F150 Series 50
Wisconsin Hyundai Elantra 515
Wyoming Ford F150 Series 19

Hyundai and Kia’s Missing Security Feature

The most common model in this dataset is the Hyundai Elantra, which was the most stolen car in 20 different states. The Hyundai Sonata (Kentucky) and Kia Soul (Hawaii) also made an appearance.

A major reason for this trend is that many Hyundai and Kia models produced between 2011 and 2021 lack electronic engine immobilizers—basic anti-theft tech now standard in most vehicles.

This omission made it easier for thieves to exploit vulnerabilities, especially after viral social media videos demonstrated how to steal these cars using simple tools.

Pickup Popularity in the Heartland

Full-size pickups remain prime targets in rural and border states.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 leads theft tallies in Texas, California, and seven additional states, while Ford’s F-150 heads the list in six others. Both models are some of the most popular vehicles sold in the country, so it makes sense they’re also frequently stolen.

High resale demand for parts, coupled with interchangeable components across model years, keeps older trucks attractive to thieves—even as new anti-theft tech rolls out.

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out How Tariffs Will Impact U.S. Car Prices on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Tyler Durden
Fri, 07/04/2025 – 22:00

How To Obtain REAL Independence… Minimizing The State’s Ability To Coerce You

How To Obtain REAL Independence… Minimizing The State’s Ability To Coerce You

Authored by Nick Giambruno via InternationalMan.com,

Every July 4, Americans have less independence to celebrate…

Although the country’s founding ideals enshrined individual sovereignty, those principles have become little more than ancient history in practice today.

As Independence Day rolls around, it’s worth asking a serious question:

What does real independence look like – and how can you actually achieve it?

Let’s start by defining what it doesn’t look like:

  • A pile of taxes on every corner: income tax, sales tax, property tax, capital gains tax, estate tax—the list goes on.

  • Speech increasingly policed by “hate speech” laws and vague restrictions.

  • Mass surveillance through corporate-government partnerships, like Palantir’s work with federal agencies.

  • Travel restrictions, both international and domestic.

  • Legal tender laws, which force people to use rapidly debasing government confetti as money

  • The looming threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which can be programmed and controlled.

  • Endless foreign wars with no clear objective or benefit to the average citizen.

  • Systematic erosion of the Bill of Rights.

  • An ever-growing web of mandates, regulations, and bureaucratic red tape.

  • A politicized justice system that applies the law selectively.

  • An out-of-control federal debt burden and exploding interest expense, now consuming a massive share of tax revenue.

  • Persistent inflation and ongoing currency debasement, steadily eroding the value of your savings and income.

And that’s just a partial list.

Here’s the bottom line:

It doesn’t matter which party is in power. They are all headed in the same direction, albeit at different speeds.

The state will continue to squeeze your finances and tighten its grip over your choices. More taxes, more surveillance, more rules, fewer rights. That’s the trendline.

So what can you do?

You protect yourself with “Freedom Insurance.”

Most people have medical, life, fire, and car insurance.

Of course, you hope you never have to use these policies, but you have them anyway. They give you peace of mind and protect you if and when the worst does happen.

Think of international diversification as the ultimate insurance policy against an out-of-control government. I call it Freedom Insurance.

International diversification is a time-tested route to true freedom.

For centuries, wealthy families have used international strategies to protect their money and freedom. Now, thanks to modern technology, you can do the same—without needing to be a billionaire or even leave home.

You can start by:

  • Buying physical gold and silver – timeless, global assets that no central bank can print into oblivion.

  • Opening foreign bank accounts – spreading risk and gaining access to sounder financial institutions.

  • Acquiring foreign real estate – a tangible asset outside your home government’s jurisdiction.

  • Getting a second passport – your ultimate exit strategy if things take a turn for the worse.

  • Diversifying your income streams internationally – earn from clients, investments, or ventures in multiple countries. Better still, route this income through offshore structures in favorable jurisdictions.

  • Moving your digital footprint abroad – host your email, websites, and cloud data in privacy-respecting countries.

None of this is particularly difficult. It just takes some foresight and initiative.

These are all necessary steps to ensure your personal and financial freedom to the maximum extent in the coming chaos.

That’s how you declare your own personal independence.

When you’re no longer fully dependent on any single country for your money, rights, or future, it becomes very difficult for any one government to control you.

And when you reach that point, you’ll finally understand what real independence feels like.

So, how do you go about doing it?

If you’re serious about minimizing the state’s ability to coerce you—and you understand that “hope” is not a strategy—then it’s time to take the next step toward actionable independence.

Securing a second passport is one of the smartest moves you can make. It’s your ultimate Plan B—your legal escape hatch in an increasingly unstable world.

To help you navigate this process, we’re offering a free, in-depth guide: How to Get a Second Passport… the Easiest Option for You. This report breaks down the most accessible options, explains the costs involved, and highlights which paths are most popular and why. If you’re even thinking about international diversification, you need to read this first.

The world is heading toward crisis. Your ability to move freely—and protect yourself financially—may soon depend on the actions you take today. Click here to download the free report now.

Tyler Durden
Fri, 07/04/2025 – 21:15

Indian Engineer Caught Secretly Working Up To Five Tech Jobs Simultaneously, Offered New Gig At “Cheat On Everything” Startup

Indian Engineer Caught Secretly Working Up To Five Tech Jobs Simultaneously, Offered New Gig At “Cheat On Everything” Startup

A Silicon Valley hiring scandal has erupted around an Indian software engineer accused of secretly working for as many as five technology companies simultaneously, exposing vulnerabilities in startup recruitment practices and reigniting debates over remote work accountability.

Soham Parekh, based in India, faces mounting allegations from multiple Y Combinator-backed startup founders who claim he misrepresented his employment history while juggling concurrent positions.

Suhail Doshi, founder of artificial intelligence startup Playground AI, first exposed the alleged scheme in a series of posts detailing how his company discovered Parekh’s simultaneous employment at three to four other firms. Playground AI terminated Parekh within a week of hiring him in 2024, Doshi said.

“His resumé was 90% fake,” Doshi wrote, sharing documentation that listed previous positions at prominent AI companies including Dynamo AI, Union AI, and Synthesia. The founder also published what he claimed was a private message from Parekh expressing remorse: “Have I completely sabotaged my career? What can I do to improve my situation? I am also happy to come clean.”

The allegations quickly snowballed as other tech executives came forward with similar experiences. Fleet AI CEO Nicolai Ouporov claimed that Parekh had worked for his company and suggested the behavior was systematic.

Matthew Parkhurst, CEO of cloud cost optimization startup Antimetal, described firing Parekh after discovering his multiple concurrent positions. Despite calling the engineer “really smart and likeable,” Parkhurst quipped that “hiring Soham is a new rite of passage” in the startup community.

Yet, the controversy surrounding Parekh shouldn’t take anyone by surprise.

In 2024, research from SideHustles.com found that one-third of remote workers maintain multiple jobs, compared to 20% of in-person workers and 17% of hybrid workers. 25% of employees hold multiple positions, averaging 50 hours per week across their roles.

“Remote workers are increasingly working multiple jobs due to the rising cost of living in recent years,” Kevin Thompson, finance expert and CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek.

“Additionally, many remote roles are relatively easy to manage, allowing workers to take on additional jobs without a noticeable drop in productivity.”

The controversy has even attracted opportunistic job offers, with Cluley CEO Roy Lee, whose AI tool helps users “cheat on everything” from job interviews to sales calls, reaching out to Parekh with a job offer.

 

Tyler Durden
Fri, 07/04/2025 – 20:30

California Homeschool Families Rally Against Bill For Increased Oversight, Funding Cuts

California Homeschool Families Rally Against Bill For Increased Oversight, Funding Cuts

Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Homeschooling families in California are rallying against a bill they say would cut funding for critical enrichment programs and force their charter schools to close down.

Protesters rally to oppose AB 84 in California on June 23, 2025. Courtesy of Stephanie Dawson

Introduced by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, AB 84 seeks to increase oversight and accountability for charter schools, particularly non-classroom-based (NCB) programs.

The bill would “strengthen accountability and oversight to crack down on documented fraud and improper use of taxpayer dollars allocated for public education,” Muratsuchi, a Democrat from Los Angeles, said during an Assembly Standing Committee on Education hearing in April. Muratsuchi cited the A3 charter school scandal in San Diego, where in 2019, over $400 million in taxpayer funds was defrauded.

“Some charter schools provide vouchers to families using taxpayer dollars intended for public education.  These vouchers have been spent on family trips to Disneyland, ski resorts, and baseball games,” Muratsuchi told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement on July 2. “AB 84 seeks to ensure that public education funds are properly spent on legitimate educational activities.”

But parents and educators who provide extra curricular activities to students enrolled in charter schools, called vendors, say the bill would hurt students by cutting out significant funding for those classes.

AB 84 would reduce per-student funding for non-classroom based charter schools by up to 30 percent and restrict the use of public funds for enrichment activities unless providers hold traditional teaching credentials, limiting partnerships with specialists and professionals in the community.

For some vendors, that means they’ll have to close their business entirely.

“It would give me a pretty big dent,” Derek Davis, a private boxing coach in Temecula and Menifee, told The Epoch Times on June 27. “I would honestly most likely have to close shop and just go get a different job. So much of my clientele is all through the charter schools.”

Davis provides private boxing lessons at the homes of his students, mostly boys between five and 15 years old. He also offers group coaching lessons, providing an opportunity for children to socialize, similar to a traditional physical education class in public schools.

Davis said the bill would cut his business by about 50 to 75 percent.

“It took me years, a lot of work into going through the system and getting registered through all the charter schools, building the relationships with all the parents, and then meeting the kids,” Davis said. “This bill is going to really affect me negatively.”

Davis said most of his students get a one-hour lesson once or twice a week. Without the funding families currently receive for enrichment, however, most wouldn’t be able to afford his lessons, which cost about $50 to $60 per hour.

But the real people losing out are the students, Davis said.

California has the most homeschooled students in the country, with 547,561 children between five and 17 as of 2024, according to a survey by the U.S. Census Bureau. The state saw a 78 percent increase in homeschool students between 2017 and 2022, with the number doubling during COVID.

Currently, California is classified as a low-regulation state for homeschooling by the Home School Legal Defense Association, due to its minimal curriculum control, notification, and testing requirements.

The state’s low regulations and robust charter school options make it an appealing option for families seeking an alternative to public or private school for their children.

Opposition to AB 84 has been organized by a group called Freedom Angels, who argue the bill would cut funding for children’s enrichment programs, threatening the personalized learning models parents have tailored for their children’s unique interests, talents, and learning styles.

“All of that is an ecosystem together, and when you attack one critical part of it, it weakens and damages the entire ecosystem,” Freedom Angels organizer Tara Thornton told The Epoch Times on June 27. “So this is going to affect and impact so many children, their choices, and opportunities.”

Thornton and Denise Aguilar of Freedom Angels are behind the rallies being held at the 30 local district offices of Democratic state senators. The next rally is scheduled for July 14.

Stephanie Dawson (C) and her children, Celeste (L) and Nicholas (R), attend a rally to oppose AB 84 in California on June 23, 2025. Courtesy of Stephanie Dawson

At the local level, homeschooling mom of two Stephanie Dawson has organized groups in Riverside County to rally against the bill. She leads a co-op and is also a school board member at Mission Vista Academy, a non in-person charter school that serves parts of Riverside, Orange, San Diego, and San Bernardino Counties.

Dawson’s 8-year-old son Nicholas takes horseback riding lessons, and drama and zoology classes as part of his homeschool curriculum. Out of pocket, the three enrichment programs through Mission Vista Academy would cost her family approximately $2,000 per school year.

“This (bill) actually would impact most of the children in our co-op, as well,” Dawson told The Epoch Times. “So it’s a big thing in our community.”

AB 84 threatens to shut down most charter schools, including Mission Vista Academy.

“A lot of the aspects of this bill would make it so that these charter schools can’t function,” she said. “Our children can receive services and enrichment programs from non-credentialed vendors with this bill that will no longer be allowed so enrichment programs, such as horseback riding lessons, music lessons, STEM programs would be taken away.”

Many vendors for enrichment programs are small businesses owned by people who are specialists in their field, and don’t necessarily hold traditional teaching credentials, such as the ranches that offer horseback riding lessons and music professionals.

Currently, vendors must be pre-approved by the charter school. If they want to participate, they must apply. Parents select the vendors they want to use and vendors invoice the charter school after services are rendered.

The bill would also prohibit schools sharing staff.

“One of our students in our co-op is going into high school soon,” she said. “So, for example, if he’s enrolled in a charter that gets impacted by this bill, the amount of classes that he’s able to take from the charter school, non in-person, would be reduced because currently, the charters are able to share their staff, including their teachers that teach classes online, for example. If they can’t do that, it reduces how many teachers they have per charter school.”

Like most families in Dawson’s co-op, she says that even without the funding for enrichment programs, she would choose to continue to homeschool her son, who has never been to a brick-and-mortar school.

Dawson has shaped his education around his personalized learning style, his skills, talents, and his interests.

“And that makes his education so much more rich than I’d be able to do if he was going to a traditional school,” she said.

The mother of two touts the benefits of alternative education models. Her daughter Celeste, who is now an adult, went through the public school system until her senior year, which coincided with COVID. She enrolled in Mission Vista, part of their first graduating class, where she thrived after being able to select hand-picked enrichment classes that fed her talents and interests.

“When we’re able to focus on those things, it makes their education so much more enriching. So, for the parents and the families who would like to go that route, who would like to step out of the traditional learning style, because their child would thrive elsewhere. It’s important for us to have those options.”

AB 84 passed the Assembly on June 5 43-25 and is currently in the State Senate, referred to the Committee on Rules for assignment.

Tyler Durden
Fri, 07/04/2025 – 19:45

Facebook Is Still The Most Important Social News Network

Facebook Is Still The Most Important Social News Network

According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025, over half of under-35-year-olds in the United States now say that social media/video networks are their main source for accessing news, followed by TV and online news sites.

As Statista’s Anna Fleck reports, among the 12 countries that the Reuters Institute has been tracking on this question since 2014, Facebook and YouTube are still the most important channels for news.

Infographic: Facebook Is Still the Most Important Social News Network | Statista

You will find more infographics at Statista

Until 2022, Facebook had a reach of 30 percent of all surveyed respondents. This has dropped however to 26 percent, marking a 16 percentage point drop from its peak of 2016.

At the same time, the share of those who consume news via Instagram and Tiktok has risen over recent years, driven by younger demographics.

While just one percent of respondents used TikTok for news in 2020, this figure has recently increased to ten percent.

Tyler Durden
Fri, 07/04/2025 – 19:00

Israel Arms New ‘Anti-Hamas’ Militias In Gaza: Report

Israel Arms New ‘Anti-Hamas’ Militias In Gaza: Report

Via The Cradle

Israeli media reported Thursday on the presence of two new, Israeli-backed armed groups operating against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli news outlet Ynet, “one group is active in Gaza City, and the other in Khan Yunis” – where the Israeli military is currently present. 

Ynet had previously reported, citing sources affiliated with the Palestinian Authority (PA), that “new Fatah-aligned militias would soon begin operations in the strip.” The same sources told the outlet this week that “these are the very groups now coordinating directly with the IDF,” with both receiving salaries from the PA. 

Illustrative file image, via Flash90

One of the groups is based in Gaza City’s Shujaiya neighborhood – an area known historically as a hotbed of resistance, where Israeli forces are currently preparing to escalate operations. This faction is reportedly linked to Rami Halles, an anti-Hamas activist in Gaza linked to the PA Fatah party. 

The Halles clan has had bad blood with Hamas since the Islamist’s movement’s takeover of Gaza years ago. “Halles and his men are heavily armed and are now receiving Israeli protection and operational cover,” sources cited by Ynet say. 

The second militia, based in the southern city of Khan Yunis, is said to be led by a man named Yasser Hnaidek, who “is receiving Israeli aid – both in weapons and humanitarian supplies – as well as a salary from the PA.” He also hails from a Fatah-linked family in Gaza, according to what has been circulating. 

Hnaidek has denied involvement in any such organization. In a video circulating on social media on Thursday, he refutes reports in Hebrew media that he has cooperated with Israel, affirming, “I am with the resistance and the internal front in Gaza,” adding that “Hamas knows who I am.”

The Halles clan has also released a statement denying “any act of treason or cooperation with Israel.”

The Ynet report follows recent information about an Israeli-backed gang operating in the southernmost city of Rafah – led by the Fatah-linked Yasser Abu Shabab, also allegedly linked to ISIS. 

Abu Shabab and his group were confirmed to have been receiving Israeli support, and are behind the looting of humanitarian aid convoys in Gaza. The gang is also responsible for scouting and securing territory ahead of Israeli military operations. Additionally, Abu Shabab has been accused of drug trafficking.

Hamas has given Abu Shabab 10 days to surrender to authorities on charges of treason, armed rebellion, and forming an armed gang, or face trial in absentia, according to a statement by the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza on 1 July.

In late 2024, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza established a police force in the strip called the Arrow (‘Sahem’) Unit, aimed at combating aid looters and militias linked to Israel. 

Clashes have been breaking out recently between the Arrow Unit and these militants.

Abu Shabab’s militia said in early June 2025 that the Arrow Unit had killed “over 50 of our volunteers, including relatives of our leader, Yasser, as we guarded aid convoys and redistributed supplies that were otherwise destined for corrupt entities linked to Hamas.”

Israel continues to accuse Hamas of diverting humanitarian aid for itself – a claim which the UN has publicly rejected.

Tyler Durden
Fri, 07/04/2025 – 18:15

Hurricane Hunters Set To Probe Tropical Disturbance Near Georgia

Hurricane Hunters Set To Probe Tropical Disturbance Near Georgia

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season began on a very quiet note, with little storm activity during June. However, as we shift into July, meteorologists on X are closely tracking a developing tropical system off Georgia’s east coast. The storm appears disorganized and lopsided at this time, but conditions are becoming more favorable for gradual strengthening. Spaghetti models show multiple forecast paths tracking up the U.S. East Coast, through parts of the Mid-Atlantic, and potentially over southern New Jersey—just barely missing New York City.

“We have “Invest 92L” lurking about 100 miles east of the Georgia coast. It’s been showing signs of development, with more thunderstorm activity blossoming. It’s unclear if a low-level center has formed, but the Hurricane Hunters will investigate soon,” weather app MyRadar wrote on X. 

MyRadar noted, “We see it’s roiling with convection, or shower/thunderstorm activity. That’s a sign of a healthy disturbance. But the system needs a center of circulation to better organize. Maybe there’s a low-level swirl buried somewhere in there… maybe not.”

“The European model indicates a 70% chance that a tropical or subtropical depression forms,” MyRadar said. 

The latest spaghetti models, which display multiple forecast paths for the storm, indicate it may track up the East Coast, moving through the Mid-Atlantic with a more coastal approach, and narrowly miss New York City.

The months of August and September tend to be the most active for hurricane activity. 

The next named storm, by the way, will be called Chantal.

Tyler Durden
Fri, 07/04/2025 – 17:30

Watch Live: Trump Signs ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Into Law During Independence Day Event 

Watch Live: Trump Signs ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Into Law During Independence Day Event 

President Trump is expected to sign the GOP’s “Big Beautiful Bill” into law on Friday afternoon, as part of an Independence Day celebration at the White House. This comes less than a day after the House narrowly passed the massive tax and spending cuts package in a 218-214 vote.

The 887-page bill includes spending cuts, tax relief, increased defense funding, resources for criminal illegal alien deportation efforts, and other longstanding GOP priorities. The Senate approved the legislation a day earlier, following weeks of tense negotiations over proposed Medicaid reductions, changes to the federal nutrition assistance program, extensions of Trump-era tax breaks, and mounting concerns about the bill’s impact on the national debt (as seen with Musk-Trump spat).

Despite GOP friction, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-L.A.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) delivered on their pledge to get BBB to the finish line by the July 4 deadline.

“Congrats to everyone in Congress and the White House on getting the One Big Beautiful Bill to the finish line!” White House trade counselor Peter Navarro wrote on X. 

The social media team at the White House is stoked. 

Ahead of the signing event, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stacked up the wins for the Trump administration this week in a short-form video ad.

Related:

The signing event is scheduled to take place at the White House at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Watch Live:

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Tyler Durden
Fri, 07/04/2025 – 17:09